UN: Global water shortage threatens health of billions

One in four people around the world, or 2.1 billion, still do not have access to safe drinking water, despite some progress since 2015, according to a joint report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

The data shows that 961 million people have gained access to clean drinking water since 2015, with global coverage rising from 68% to 74%.

However, rural communities continue to face significantly greater challenges than urban areas.

Between 2015 and 2024, access to drinking water in rural regions increased from 50% to 60%, while urban coverage remained at 83%.

The report highlights stark disparities between countries, noting that people in the least developed nations are more than twice as likely to lack safe water and sanitation services compared with populations in other countries.

Experts warn that continued investment and targeted policies are essential to close these gaps and achieve global water access goals.

By Aghakazim Guliyev